Workman s time recorder



Dec. 7, 1937. E. G. wATKlNs ET Al.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Filed Sept. 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l A reza y@TM Dec. 7, 1937.

E. G. WATKINS ET AL woRKMANs TIME RECORDER Filed sept. 24; 1955 5sheets-sheet 2 Dec. 7, 1937. E. G. WATKINS E-r Al.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Filed Sept, 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 AGM Laube-Dec. 7, 1937. E. G. wATKlNs Er AL WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Filed Sept. 24,1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm. .Q

Dec. 7p 1937u E. G. WATKINS m A1.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER 5 'sheets-sheet 5 Filed sepi. 24, 1955 fl-OPatented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES WORKMANS TIME RECORDER Edward G.Watkins and .Eames A. Dell, Gardner,

Mass., assignors to Simplex Time Recorder Company, Gardner, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application September 24, 1935, Serial No.41,924

9 Claims.

This invention relates to recorders for making a printed time record onworkmens individual time cards.

.More specifically, the invention relates to a `time recorder in whichthe card guide or chute is shifted laterally at predetermined intervalswhich are commonly determined by the particular working hours in forcewhere the recorder is in use.

One important object of. our invention relates to the provision ofimproved means for shifting the card chute periodically by actuatingdevices which are indirectly driven from the time mechanism, so that theintermittent chute-shifting load does not react directly on the timemechanism.

More speci'cally, we provide means for storing power during one timeperiod such as twentyfour hours, which power is thereafter transferred.and made available for shifting the card chute at successive intervalsduring the next time period.

We also provide improved means for preventing a registration unless thecard chute is in some one of. its predetermined positions.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in whichFig. 1 is a plan view of the card chute and lassociated parts;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of a portion of the time recorder casing;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the parts shown `in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a left-hand side elevation, looking in the direction of. thearrow 4 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view, taken along the line 6 6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the control disc;

Fig. `8 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional plan View, taken along the line 8--9 inFig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a detail front elevation, looking in the direction of thearrow i0 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional front elevation, taken along the line ll-Hin Fig. 4;

Fig. 1.2 is a side elevation of the circuit-closing devices, takensubstantially along the line l2--l2 'i in Fig. 2, and

Figs, 13 and 14 are side elevations of certain parts appearing in Fig. 4but shown in different positions.

Referring to the drawings, We have shown a card chute (Fig. 3) mountedto slide transvers-ely on fixed horizontal guide rods, one of which isshown at 2i. The chute 20 is provided with a card rest 22 (Fig. 3)slidable in grooves in the vertical side members 23 of the card chuteand shifted intermittently vertically at the end of each day by timecontrolled actuating mechanism, not shown, and forming no part of ourpresent invention.

Guide plates 24 and 25 (Fig. 3) are secured to the front of the cardchute and are spaced substantially forwardly therefrom. The card chutef5.3 is relatively slidable transversely along a rack bar 26 mounted inopenings in the guide plates 24 and 25, and a stop pin 21 on the rackbar engages the left-hand side of the guide plate and limits movement ofthe card chute to the left relative to the rack bar.

An elongated coil spring 28 is connected at one end. to a stud 29 on therack bar and at the other end to a stud 300m the guide plate 25. Thecard chute may thus be moved yieldingly to the right relative to therack bar 2B, from the position shown in Fig. 3, but is held by the stop2i' from relative movement to the left.

The teeth of the rack bar are engaged by a pinion 32 (Fig. 3), looselymounted on a cross shaft 33 and yieldingly moved clockwise by a. coilspring 34 having its lower end iixed to the recorder frame and havingits upper end connected to a flexible metal band 35 wound around the hub36 of the pinion 32 and secured thereto by a screw 31.

A collar 40 (Figs. 1 and 6) is secured to the cuter end of the crossshaft 33 and has an axially projecting lug 4l engaged by a radiallydisposed pin 42 on the hub 36. The lug 4l and pin 42 thus constitute alost motion connection between the shaft 33 and the pinion 32.

With this construction, the transverse position of the rack bar 2G andcard chute 20 is normally controlled by the shaft 33 but the card chuteand rack bar may be temporarily shifted manually to the left forirregular registration, in which end the pinion 32 rotates freelyrelative to the shaft 33 and temporarily elongates the spring 34.

If on the other hand it is desired to shift the card chute to the rightmanually for an irregular registration, the guide plates will slidefreely along the rack bar 26, at the same time tensioning i the spring28. As soon as the card chute is released from displacement in eitherdirection, it Will return immediately to its predetermined setting.

The mechanism for making the impression forms no part of our presentinvention and is substantially similar to that shown in the priorapplication of Edward G. Watkins, Serial No. 20,140, led May '7, 1935.

This impression making mechanism is shown,

fao

recorder above and just to the rear of the card chute. Y

A spring ll (Fig. 12) normally holds a stopf` pin 48 against an uprightbar 49. Thelower end of the lever 54 engages a member 50 (Figs. 1 and12), one end of which isA secured to a plunger 5| slidable in fixedbearings 52. An intermediate portion of the member 50 is slidable in axed slotted guide plate 53, and the forwardly offset outer end of themember 50 is threaded to receive a screw 5l; forming an adjustableabutment adapted to be positioned in a recess 55 (Fig. 4) formed in theupper end of a lever 56 mounted (on a'fixed pivot 51.

' The coilvspring 58 (Fig. 1) engages a washer 59 on the plunger 5| andforces the washer rearward against a cross-pin 50, which in turnenfgages the front side of the rear bearing 52. The front end of theplunger 5| is adapted to enter Vsome one of a series Voi openings 52(Fig. 5) in a bar 63 fixed to and movable transversely with -the cardchute 20 when the card chute is in any one of its predetermined lateralpositions. Nhen thus aligned, the nger plate 45 may be operated tomovethe plunger 5| forward. If the card chute is not in any one of itsregular positions, the `plunger will engage thevrack bar 53 between theholes 62 and movement of the finger plate will be prevented.

The lever 56 (Fig. 4) is provided with a latch 65 adapted to engage aplate 56 on the upper end of a yielding member` 51 which supports acontact stud 08. When the lever is moved forward by pressure'on thefinger plate, the circuit is closed and a solenoid coil 59 operates aplunger 'l0 to turn the hammer shaft and cause a hammer l2 (Fig. 3) toYforce the card against the type wheels tomake an impression.

As theV plunger 'l0 rises, a plate lll (Fig. 4) movable therewithengages the outer end of the latch 65, lifting it away from the plate 06so that the contacts yieldingly separate and the hammer circuit Visbroken. A light coil spring 15 maintains the lever 5B yieldingly inrearward position,

,and aV stop llimits forward movement thereof.

For the purpose of moving the card chute Inanually laterally forirregular registrations, we provide a plate 80 (Fig. 2) mounted to slidetransversely in the casing C and having a forwardly projecting thumbpiece 8| with an opening B2 through which insignia on the casing may beobserved. Studs 83 extend downward from the slide plate 80 and engagethe side edges 85 (Fig. 5) of the card chute 20.

` ,The operator by grasping the thumb-piece 8| is thus able to move thecard chute from its regular position in either direction, such movementVb eing permitted by the yieldingY connections previously described.

The pinion cross shaft 33 (Fig. 6) is provided ,at its rear.v end withabevel pinion 85 engaging a .bevel pinion 80 on a short shaft 81 pivotedin nection to the slotted outer end of a stud 91 mounted to slide in abearing 98 on the lever 90.

The inner end of the stud 97 successively engages difierent flangeplates (Figs. '7 and 8) secured to the outer face of a disc I0! mountedon a shaft |02a (Fig. 6) which makes one revolution in twenty-four hoursand'which is continuously rotated by the type wheel driving mechamsm.

The ange plates |00 are of substantially triangular cross section asshown in Fig. 8, with the thicker edge portion at the outside. The disc|0| rotates in an anticlockwise direction and the leading end of eachflange plate is beveled circumferentially as indicated at |52, while thefollowing end of each plate is sharply undercut as indicated at |03.

The different flange plates are provided with segmental ribs |04 (Fig.3) tting corresponding concentric grooves |05 in the face of the disc|0l. The disc is providedV with concentric series of tapped holes |05(Fig. 7) to receive screws |01 extending through slots |08 in the angeplates |00.

By placing the screws in selected holes and adjusting the platesangularly with respect to the screws and disc, the flange plates may besecured in any desired angular relation on the face of the disc i5 andeach flange plate may be of such segmental length as is found desirable.

Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 13, the spring92 acts to pull the stud 9'? upward against one of the flange plateslill) and this action is supplemented by the spring 35 (Fig. 3) actingthrough the cross shaft 33 and gear connections which also tend to swingthe segmental gear Q5 and stud il? upward.

No upward movement can take place, however, until the disc lili hasrotated suiiiciently so that the stud 9? can snap oi of the rear orundercut end or" the flange plate |65 with which it is engaged,whereupon the segment gear will move upward and the card chute will moveto the right in Fig. 3 until the stud 9i engages the next inner flangeplate |53. This successive holding and release action will continueuntil the stud 91 engages the hub il@ cf the disc lill, in whichposition the card chute occupies its extreme right-hand position.

It will thus be seen that the disc |l| and plates 55 merely act toalternately hold and release the segment gear 80 for movement under theinfluence of the springs 92 and 35 but that the disc l0! furnishes nopower for movement of the card chute or its associated parts.

When the stud 5l is moved inward and engages 'the hub il@ and the cardchute 20 is in its eX- treme right-hand position, some provision isnecessary for resetting the apparatus and for returning the card chuteto the left, an action ordinarily taking place at midnight.

We will now describe the mechanism by which this resetting isaccomplished.

We provide a cam |52 (Fig. 13) mountedon a cani shaft l E3 and connectedby gears Il@ and I5 (Figs. ll and l0) to the driving shaft |02a (Fig. 6)by which tie disc l0! is rotated. The gears iM and H5 are of equal sizeso that the cam H2 rotates once in twenty-four hours in a clockwisedirection.

The cam E i2 is'provided withl a pivoted loose tip il? (Fig. 13) forpurposes of quick release of the cam roll H8 which is mounted on an armH9 swinging about a xed pivot |20. A heavy coil spring l connectedbetween a stud |22 on the arm H9 and another stud fixed to the recorderframe but not shown. As the cam l2 rotates, the roll H8 and arm H9 areraised and the heavy spring |2| is tensioned.

A hook |30 (Fig. 13) is pivoted at |3| on the arm H9 and a spring |32normally holds the hook |39 against a stop pin 33 in the segment gear9B. As the arm H9 is moved upward, however, by the cam H2, a lug |34 onthe hook |39 is engaged by an arm |40 mounted on a fixed pivot |4| andyieldingly held downward against a stop pin |42 by a spring |43.

The spring |43 is strong enough to overcome the spring |32 and to swingthe upper end of the pivot |20 rearward to the position shown in Fig. 14as the arm H9 approaches its upper limit of movement, In such rearwardposition the hook |30 overlies a stud |45 (Fig. 14) in the segment gear90.

When the cam roll H8 thereafter drops off of the cam H2, the hocl; |30pulls the segment gear 90 down until the lower surface |46 (Fig. 4)thereof engages a fixed stop plate |41. By such movement of the segmentgear, the card chute is returned to extreme left-hand position by thepower stored in the heavy spring |2| and without direct dependence onthe driving power of the time mechanism.

During this downward movement of the segment gear 90, the stud 91ratchets outward over the outwardly tapered flange plates |09 and snapsagain into operative position outside of the outermost flange plate, asshown in Fig. 4.

As soon as the'cam H2 begins to lift the arm H9, the stud 91 will engagethe outermost flange plate lOl, and still further upward movement of thearm H9 will cause the hook |39 to clear the stud |45, thereupon it wiilbe swung to the position indicated in Fig. 13 by the spring |32 and willnot thereafter interfere with the intermittent upward movement of thesegment gear.

By this improved driving mechanism, we thus utilize the slow continuousrotation of the cam H2 to store up energy in the spring |2| during anentire twenty-four hour period, which energy is released when the rollH8 drops off the cam point H'! and is then applied to retlun the cardchute to the left and to tension the springs 34 and 92. The entireaction is automatic and the slow continuous and uniformly resistedmovement of the cam H2 does not place an undue load on the timemechanism.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we donot wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise thanas set forth in the claims, but what we claim is:

1. In a time recorder, a card chute, a hammer device, actuatingmechanism therefor including an electric circuit and a circuit-closingswitch, a. bar mounted on said chute and having spaced holes therein,and a plunger slidable through any one of said holes when said hole isin a predetermined position, said plunger and bar cooperating to preventclosing of said switch when said plunger is out of alignment with one ofsaid holes.

2. In a time recorder, a card chute, a hammer device, actuatingmechanism therefor including an electric circuit and a circuit-closingswitch, a bar mounted on said chute and having spaced holes therein, anda plunger slidable through any one of said holes when said hole is in apredetermined position, and said plunger and bar cooperating to preventclosing of said switch when said card chute is not in some one of itsnormal operating positions.

3. In a time recorder, a card chute, a spring actuated cross shaft, apinion mounted on said shaft and having a driving connection theretowhich permits limited lost motion between said pinion and shaft, and arack bar slidably and yieldingly mounted on said card chute and engagedby said pinion.

4. In a time recorder, a card chute, a spring actuated cross shaft, apinion mounted on said shaft and having a lost motion driving connectionthereto, a rack bar engaging said pinion and slidably mounted on saidcard chute, a spring acting to slide said card chute in one directionrelative to said bar and a stop on said bar effective to limit suchsliding movement.

5. In a time recorder, a card chute, a rack bar slidably mountedthereon, a spring to move said chute longitudinally in one directionrelative to said bar, a stop on said bar to limit such movement,time-controlled means to move said bar and chute periodically andautomatically as a unit in said direction, and a yieldable connectionbetween said time-controlled means and said bar, which connection yieldsto permit said bar and chute to be moved manually in the oppositedirection and which restores the normal operation of saidtime-controlled means when said bar and chute are released from manualcontrol.

6. In a time recorder, a card chute, time-controlled means including asegment gear to shift said card chute, a timing disc having a series ofconcentric segmental flange plates, a stud on said segmental gearengaging said flange plates successively as said disc is rotated and aspring for said stud, said flange plates having outwardly inclined innerfaces` and said stud being yieldingly and axially movable in saidsegmental gear and being thereby yieldingly movable past said flangeplates when said gear and stud are swung outward away from the axis ofsaid disc, and means to move said gear and stud outward at predeterminedtime intervals.

7. In a time recorder, a card chute, spring means to move said cardchute at intervals in one direction, a pinion connected to shift saidcard chute in the opposite direction, a segmental gear having a stud, apivoted arm, a hook on said arm, a spring to hold said hook normallyclear of said stud, means to swing said hook over said stud as said armand hook are raised, a continuously rotated cam elective to raise saidarm and hook and to thereafter release said arm and hook, and a heavyspring connected to said arm and effective to depress said segmentalgear and thereby rotate said pinion to restore said card chute toinitial position when said arm is released by said cam.

8. In a time recorder, a card chute, a rack bar slidably mountedthereon, a stop on said bar, a spring to hold said chute yieldinglyagainst said stop, and manual means to move said card chute relative tosaid bar away from said stop and against the action of said spring.

9. In a time recorder, al card chute, a hammer device, electro-magneticactuating means therefor, an electric circuit for said means including acircuit-closing switch, means to move said card chute to a plurality ofdifferent lateral operating positions, and means to block said switchfrom closing movement when said chute is out of alignment with some oneoperative position.

EDWARD G. WATKINS. JAMES A. DELL.

